Phase 2 of the Craigflower Road Upgrading project in Esquimalt is now complete, thanks to a $4.97 million investment under the federal Gas Tax Fund. The occasion mas marked by a completion ceremony at Yarrow Place on Craigflower Road at 10 a.m. this morning. The project encompasses one kilometre of roadway, and includes continuous bike lanes in each direction, continuous sidewalks on both sides of the road, landscaped median islands for traffic calming, improved transit facilities, innovative rainwater capture and treatment, and a complete repaving of the road.
“The Government of Canada's Gas Tax Fund supports environmentally-sustainable municipal infrastructure that contributes to cleaner air, cleaner water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This project is another example of the tangible impact the federal Gas Tax Fund is having on communities and residents across British Columbia.”
The corridor historically served as a direct route between the City of Victoria and the Westshore communities and was built to old standards that did not accommodate multiple modes of transportation. The project balances transportation and land use objectives with neighborhood values, and improves overall safety and efficiency for all modes of travel. An innovative feature of the project is the addition of two stormceptors and a dedicated rain garden at Yarrow Place that will treat runoff from the road before it enters the Gorge Waterway.
“The completion of this project is important for our community because it uses sustainable principles in its design and construction,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins. “All users of the corridor can safely make their way to their destinations, the neighbourhood has retained green space, and with the rainwater facilities, the aquatic environment in the Gorge has been protected.”
The Gas Tax Fund is a tripartite agreement between Canada, British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) that delivers infrastructure funding to local governments primarily for capital projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. UBCM administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C. in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.
“Advances in technology allow local governments to build roadways to a higher environmental standard than before, but greener infrastructure usually means higher costs,” said UBCM President Barbara Steele. “The Gas Tax Fund is helping communities achieve their environmental goals by transferring federal revenues to local projects.”
For further information on the Government of Canada’s infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Gillian Rhodes
Communications Manager
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-356-6334
Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
OR Toll-Free 1-877-250-7154
Jeff Miller
Director of Engineering and Public Works
The Township of Esquimalt
250-414-7108